On Saturday Morning a Strong M6.0 Earthquake struck in the North Atlantic Ocean near Saint John’s (Antigua and Barbuda).

Written by Earthquakelist.org on May 16th, 2026.

In the morning of Saturday May 16th, 2026, a strong M6.0 earthquake hit in the North Atlantic Ocean 83 kilometer from Saint John’s, Antigua and Barbuda. Roughly 580 thousand people may have felt this earthquake. Other nearby countries are Guadeloupe, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Anguilla, Dominica and Martinique.

Earthquake Summary

This earthquake hit under water in the North Atlantic Ocean, 62 kilometers (38 mi) off the coast of Antigua and Barbuda, 83 kilometer north-east of Saint John’s in Saint John. The center of this earthquake had a quite shallow depth of 30 km. Shallow earthquakes usually have a larger impact than earthquakes deep in the earth.

Date and Time:	May 16, 2026 10:50 (Antigua Time) - May 16, 2026 14:50 Universal Time.
Location:	83 km NE of Saint John’s, Saint John, Antigua and Barbuda. Coordinates 17°30'46"N 61°10'38"W.
Map:	Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude:	MAG 6.0 Detected by 31 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.034 .
Depth:	30 km (19 mi) A quite shallow depth.
Max. Intensity:	V Moderate On the Modified Mercalli Scale.
Tsunami Risk:	Low tsunami risk Earthquakes under MAG-6.5 do not usually cause tsunami's. Always stay cautious - More info here.

Minimal impact predicted

Based on scientific estimates by the US Geographic Survey (USGS), the risk of high fatalities for this earthquake is classified at level GREEN (low). They expect an 90% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 fatalities.

The USGS classifies the economic impact of this earthquake at level GREEN (low). They expect an 90% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 million US Dollars in economic damage and impact.

Roughly 580 thousand people exposed to shaking

An estimated 580 thousand have been exposed to shaking (An MMI or Modified Mercalli Intensity level II or higher) as a result of this earthquake according scientific estimates published by the USGS.

Light shaking and likely no damage may have been experienced by an estimated 400,700 people. At IV, it is the highest MMI level this earthquake has caused.

People in 8 countries have been exposed to shaking. In Guadeloupe , around 390 thousand people, with impact levels up to IV (light shaking, likely no damage). Roughly 100 thousand people were exposed to shaking in Antigua and Barbuda . In Saint Kitts and Nevis , around 50 thousand people. A smaller number of people were exposed in the following countries: Montserrat, Caribbean Netherlands, Saint Martin, Saint Barthelemy and Anguilla.

People	MMI Level	Shaking	Damage
0	I	Not noticable	None
0	II	Very weak	None
175,300	III	Weak	Probably none
400,700	IV	Light	Likely none
0	V	Moderate	Very light
0	VI	Strong	Light
0	VII	Very Strong	Moderate
0	VIII	Severe	Moderate to heavy
0	IX	Violent	Heavy
0	X	Extreme	Very heavy

Nearby towns and cities

12 countries can be found within 300km of the epicenter of this earthquake: Antigua and Barbuda , Guadeloupe , Montserrat , Saint Kitts and Nevis , Anguilla , Dominica and Martinique . Futher away, this earthquake may also have been felt in British Virgin Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands and Saint Lucia.

Located 83 kilometer (52 mi) north-east of the epicenter of this earthquake, Saint John’s (Saint John, Antigua and Barbuda) is the nearest significant population center. Saint John’s experienced an earthquake intensity (MMI Scale) of roughly IV. That level implies light shaking and likely no damage.

The table below provides an overview of all places in proximity of today's earthquake. Where available, the estimated intensity on the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale in each place is included. Places where this information is omitted likely experienced little impact.

Overview of nearby places

Cities and Towns around the epicenter of this earthquake.
Distance	Place	Intensity (MMI)
83 km (52 mi) SW from epicenter	Saint John’s Saint John, Antigua and Barbuda.	IV Light
133 km (83 mi) S from epicenter	Le Moule Guadeloupe, Guadeloupe.	IV Light
136 km (85 mi) SW from epicenter	Brades Saint Peter, Montserrat.	III Weak
142 km (88 mi) S from epicenter	Sainte-Rose Guadeloupe, Guadeloupe.	IV Light
142 km (88 mi) S from epicenter	Les Abymes Guadeloupe, Guadeloupe.	IV Light
142 km (88 mi) SW from epicenter	Plymouth Saint Anthony, Montserrat.	III Weak
145 km (90 mi) S from epicenter	Sainte-Anne Guadeloupe, Guadeloupe.	IV Light
145 km (90 mi) S from epicenter	Baie-Mahault Guadeloupe, Guadeloupe.	IV Light
146 km (91 mi) S from epicenter	Pointe-à-Pitre Guadeloupe, Guadeloupe.	IV Light
149 km (93 mi) S from epicenter	Le Gosier Guadeloupe, Guadeloupe.	IV Light
153 km (95 mi) S from epicenter	Petit-Bourg Guadeloupe, Guadeloupe.	IV Light
166 km (103 mi) W from epicenter	Basseterre Saint George Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis.	III Weak
168 km (104 mi) S from epicenter	Capesterre-Belle-Eau Guadeloupe, Guadeloupe.	IV Light
179 km (111 mi) S from epicenter	Basse-Terre Guadeloupe, Guadeloupe.	III Weak
182 km (113 mi) W from epicenter	Gustavia All regions, Saint Barthelemy.	III Weak
211 km (131 mi) W from epicenter	Marigot All regions, Saint Martin.
214 km (133 mi) W from epicenter	The Valley The Valley, Anguilla.
247 km (153 mi) S from epicenter	Roseau Saint George, Dominica.
304 km (189 mi) S from epicenter	Sainte-Marie Martinique, Martinique.
309 km (192 mi) S from epicenter	La Trinité Martinique, Martinique.
316 km (196 mi) S from epicenter	Saint-Joseph Martinique, Martinique.
316 km (196 mi) S from epicenter	Le Robert Martinique, Martinique.
323 km (201 mi) S from epicenter	Le Lamentin Martinique, Martinique.
324 km (201 mi) S from epicenter	Le François Martinique, Martinique.
324 km (201 mi) S from epicenter	Fort-de-France Martinique, Martinique.
327 km (203 mi) S from epicenter	Ducos Martinique, Martinique.
378 km (235 mi) W from epicenter	Road Town All regions, British Virgin Islands.
379 km (235 mi) W from epicenter	Saint Croix Saint Croix Island, U.S. Virgin Islands.
392 km (244 mi) S from epicenter	Castries Castries, Saint Lucia.

Earthquake Intensity Map

The maximum intensity (MMI Scale) caused by this earthquake is V. The map below shows in which areas this earthquake was the most and least impactful. It is based on data from the US Geographic Survey.

I Not felt

II Weak

III Weak

IV Light

V Moderate

VI Strong

VII Very Strong

VIII Severe

IX Violent

X Extreme

Earthquake Intensity Map based on Shakemap Data provided by USGS.

Shaking reported by 103 people in 9 countries

People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 103 people have reported shaking in 43 places in 9 countries (Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Guadeloupe, Montserrat, Netherlands Antilles, Saint Vincent and The Grenadines, Martinique, Dominica, British Virgin Islands).We keep updating this article as more ground reports become available. You may report that you felt this earthquake here.

Places with most reports:

Saint Johnʿs, Saint John, Antigua and Barbuda: 9 people.
Low Lands, Sint Maarten, Netherlands Antilles: 6 people.
Point-à-Pitre, Grande-Terre, Guadeloupe: 6 people.
Cedar Grove, Saint John, Antigua and Barbuda: 6 people.
Bolands, Saint Mary, Antigua and Barbuda: 5 people.
Basseterre, Saint George Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis: 4 people.
Cul De Sac, Sint Maarten, Netherlands Antilles: 4 people.
All Saints, Saint John, Antigua and Barbuda: 4 people.
Simpson Bay, Sint Maarten, Netherlands Antilles: 3 people.
Saint-Barthélemy, Saint Barthélemy, Guadeloupe: 3 people.

Aftershocks detected

After this earthquake struck, 1 smaller aftershock occurred. At a distance of 33 km (20 mi) southwest of this earthquake, an aftershock struck 2 sec later. It measured a magnitude of 6

In the days before this main shock, 1 smaller foreshock was detected. Nearby this earthquake a foreshock struck 14 hrs earlier. It measured a magnitude of 3.6

Overview of foreshocks and aftershocks

Detected MAG2.5+ earthquakes within within 100km (62 mi), that occurred in the three days before and after the main shock.
Classification	Magnitude	When	Where
Foreshock	M 3.6	14 hrs earlier May 15, 2026 21:10 (Antigua Time)	59 km (36 mi) W from Main Shock.
Main Shock This Earthquake	M 6.0	May 16, 2026 10:50 (Antigua Time)	-
Aftershock	M 6.0	2 sec later May 16, 2026 10:50 (Antigua Time)	33 km (20 mi) SW from Main Shock.

More earthquakes coming?

The risk of aftershocks decreases rapidly over time. Usually, aftershocks are at least one order of magnitude lower than a main shock.

In only six percent of cases, significant earthquakes are followed by a larger main shock, making the current earthquake a foreshock. While the chance of this happening is not so large, it is adviced to maintain cautiousness in the hours and days following a major earthquake.

Read: How to Stay Safe during an Earthquake (cdc.gov).

Earthquakes like this are common in the region

Earthquakes of this strength occur quite regularly in the region. This is the strongest earthquake to hit since October 27th, 2025, when a 6.5 magnitude earthquake hit 203 km (126 mi) further south-east. An even stronger magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck on July 10th, 2023.

In total, 3 earthquakes with a magnitude of 6 or higher have been registered within 300km (186 mi) of this epicenter in the past 10 years. This comes down to an average of once every 3 years.

Low tsunami risk

DISCLAIMER: We strongly suggest to closely monitor advice from local authorities with regards to tsunami risks. Our analysis is based on automatically collected data from external sources, and these might contain mistakes. In addition, earthquakes can cause landslides that may lead to a tsunami, or be a followed by another, potentially stonger, earthquake.

Based on early data it appears this earthquake was not strong enough (lower than MAG-6.5) to be likely to cause destructive tsunami's. However this earthquake appeared to have hit at a shallow depth under sea, so stay cautious and monitor advice from local authorities.

Tsunami Risk Factors

Factor	Under Sea?	MAG-6.5 or stronger?	Shallow depth?
Explanation	Almost all tsunami's are caused by earthquakes with their epicenter under sea or very near the sea. However stay cautious in coastal areas as earthquakes on land may cause landslides into sea, potentially still causing a local tsunami.	Under MAG 6.5: Very unlikely to cause a tsunami. MAG 6.5 to 7.5: Destructive tsunami's do occur, but are uncommon. Likely to observe small sea level changes. MAG 7.6+: Earthquakes with these magnitudes might produce destructive tsunami's.	Most destructive tsunami's are caused by shallow earthquakes with a depth between 0 and 100km under the surface of the earth. Deeper tsunami's are unlikely to displace to ocean floor.
This Earthquake	This earthquake appears to have struck under the sea.	Not this earthquake. This earthquake had a magnitude of 6. Earthquakes of this strength are unlikely to trigger a tsunami.	This earthquake occurred at a depth of of 30 km (19 mi). Earthquakes this shallow could trigger a tsunami.

Sources

Last updated 16/05/26 22:28 (). This article is automatically generated based on available data. We keep checking multiple sources for additional information. This article gets updated as new details on this earthquake become available.